What do you think of this drill press?

[kmmcrafts]

18 minutes ago, Ceric ME said:

 

I've have this Wen Drill Press (I received it for Christmas part of the reason I was able to get my scroll saw)
https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-10-in-Variable-Speed-Drill-Press-4212/204853908

Having the adjustable speed on the side is nice.  The laser eats batteries.  You can adjust how far down it goes.  I have a cheap vice for it and clamp that goes in the table for long wood I've drilled.  The chuck is rated for 1 - 13mm but, I've put a bit in it that is .66mm wide and it was secure.

I can't tell you about the longevity.  I've been quiet impressed for the cost.

(It also has a little RPM Gauge on the front which is nice when trying to adjust to a recommended speed.  Though I've mostly just keep it at the lowest for wood now.)

I did "upgrade" it with a sewing light (Magnetic light with a stem) so I could see the drilling area better.

 

If I ever need to by another there are some scenarios where to be nice to be able to bring the head out from the table.  Though maybe by that time I might get to big for my britches (and shop) go actively see about scoring a Lathe.

Thanks for your review, That is the one I originally was looking at but it's out of stock both online and in stores within a 100 mile radius so that is why I chose the other one.. Though there may be one on eBay as I haven't shopped much for a drill press in a long time.. Been watching miter saws, LOL

[Ceric ME]

13 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

Thanks for your review, That is the one I originally was looking at but it's out of stock both online and in stores within a 100 mile radius so that is why I chose the other one.. Though there may be one on eBay as I haven't shopped much for a drill press in a long time.. Been watching miter saws, LOL

I love my Miter saw.  I have the DeWalt one https://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/saws/miter-saws/15-amp-12-in-electric-singlebevel-compound-miter-saw/dws715

My first "Large" tool purchase was this for a bit less then $300.  We got it do trim.  Haven't done the trim yet but man did it open up my woodworking capability.  Now with that said now that I've gotten into Scroll Sawing I wish I would have ponied up the extra many and gotten a sliding compound miter saw for the extra width it can cut.  At the time we debated between that for the future but, my wife and I couldn't really justify it.

It would be really handy to be able to cut a full 12+ inch wide board.  Especially since setting everything up to use the circular saw is a pain once you just walked over, lined the wood up, and zip cut to where you want.  Also while I know a table saw is suppose to be one of those things every woodworker just happens to have.  The cost and the space I can't justify.

Edited May 11, 2021 by Ceric ME

[kmmcrafts]

5 minutes ago, Ceric ME said:

I love my Miter saw.  I have the DeWalt one https://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/saws/miter-saws/15-amp-12-in-electric-singlebevel-compound-miter-saw/dws715

My first "Large" tool purchase was this for a bit less then $300.  We got it do trim.  Haven't done the trim yet but man did it open up my woodworking capability.  Now with that said now that I've gotten into Scroll Sawing I wish I would have ponied up the extra many and gotten a sliding compound miter saw for the extra width it can cut.  At the time we debated between that for the future but, my wife and I couldn't really justify it.

It would be really handy to be able to cut a full 12+ inch wide board.  Especially since setting everything up to use the circular saw is a pain once you just walked over, lined the wood up, and zip cut to where you want.  Also while I know a table saw is suppose to be one of those things every woodworker just happens to have.  The cost and the space I can't justify.

I have a nice Hitachi miter saw that I've had since around 2006.. But it doesn't slide.. Now that I am CNC routing signs etc.. I'm working with a lot of glue ups that are 10 - 14" wide.. Even flipping the board over doesn't get cut all the way through, LOL so yeah.. the slider one is what I'm after. I use my Hitachi dang near every day so I'd be lost without it. I'm looking at getting the DeWalt dws799 12" miter saw. I think is the model number.. Runs $399 on the Home Depot site which for some reason is cheaper than the refurbished ones on CPO site, LOL So I need to snag one up soon.. prices of everything is on the rise.. buy now and save if you can.. lol

[Dave Monk]

6 hours ago, FrankEV said:

That is a good DP, but for just drilling fretwork holes...WHY would you want to spend that much money?

My upside down dremel DP works great  (subject of another post if you want to know, PM me).   Betwenn one of the small Dremel rotary tools and their DP....less then a hundred dollars.  Holds small bits nicely, takes up very little space and works well for drilling blade holes for fretwork. 

 

I definitely want a drill press that will handles 2 and 3 inch forstner bits.  Takes a pretty good drill press for that. I currently have a small drill that Seyco sells that works similar to your rotary tool for drilling fretwork. 

[Jim Finn]

4 hours ago, Rockytime said:

Hi Jim, could you post a picture of the small radial drill. I'd love to see it. I'm a tool junkie!

it is an obsolete tool , I think but serves me well. I also have one like this https://www.autotoolworld.com/Dremel-220-01-WorkstationRotary-Tool-Attachment_p_165875.html?.html?msclkid=30b3b49aec8f12d09bc5d401dd63babf&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&utm_term=4585238368591926&utm_content=All Products

but it is fixed at 90 degrees so I built a sloping base to the angle I need.

Edited May 12, 2021 by Jim Finn

[Rockytime]

1 hour ago, Jim Finn said:

it is an obsolete tool , I think but serves me well. I also have one like this https://www.autotoolworld.com/Dremel-220-01-WorkstationRotary-Tool-Attachment_p_165875.html?.html?msclkid=30b3b49aec8f12d09bc5d401dd63babf&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&utm_term=4585238368591926&utm_content=All Products

but it is fixed at 90 degrees so I built a sloping base to the angle I need.

Thanks for the photo and also for the Dremel site. That looks very interesting.

[LarryEA]

I have a jet, a little bit pricey.

I like the fact that the chuck cranks down to '0'  will hold any size drill bit

[Rolf]

The largest fretwork that I do is 11 x 14 like what Charles Hand designs.  I use a small Micro Mark drill press. I have had it for many years. It easily holds the #70 bits.  The throat is large enough that I can get to the middle of my projects. 

For a normal Drill press I went nuts! I do a large variety of projects not just wood. I hated moving  the belts on my Delta floor model so as most of us probably do I left the speed in one place most of the time. 

I now own a Nova Voyager , No belts direct drive like my Nova lathe speeds 50 - 5500 . 6" spindle travel.  This thing blew my mind when it first came out. 

 

[Roberta Moreton]

I do a bit of fretwork. I don’t use my drillpress to drill those holes. I use a dremel in the plunge router base. It’s quick and easy. A drillpress would be cumbersome and hard to get it in the exactly right spot for those tiny areas. I think you might want the scrollers drill from Seyco. 

[Woodmaster1]

I have a Delta 18" drill press I use for everything but scrollsaw work. I use a seyco drill for scrollsaw work. A dremmel drill press setup would work well too.

[kmmcrafts]

For fretwork in thin BB ply the dremel with plunge base works pretty well so long as you're not like me and stack cutting 5 at a time. or cutting thick hardwoods.. in that case the dremel kind of lacks power at low speeds and burns up drill bits at high enough speeds to have enough power, LOL I do use it anyway but plan on going through bits about 1/2 times more than you would with a drill press and the proper speed. I can see where it's very handy for the hard to get to spots on larger projects that the drill press can't get. Changing the bits is a little cumbersome as well as it's not super easy to get to with it mounted into the base. But I managed to use some needle nose pliers to reach back in there to do the job.. better than taking the whole thing apart. Most of you aren't worried about time so that may not be an issue for you. The plunge router base is plastic and after drilling a couple million holes the thing gets pretty sloppy. You may not notice it on thin stock but in thick stock you'll quickly see it's easy to drill angled holes and hard to drill straight holes, then you have a underpowered hand drill,  

How does the Seyco drill do power wise? That little motor makes me think it's comparable to a Dremel.. I've often thought about buying one but I'd be disappointed if I just bought a overpriced Dremel, LOL 

[Rolf]

I was never impressed with the Dremel router base even when new it seemed a bit sloppy. I have used it a few times.

 

[Rockytime]

StewMac is the way to go. Pricey but worthevery penny or dollars.

[Rolf]

On 5/13/2021 at 4:56 PM, Rockytime said:

StewMac is the way to go. Pricey but worthevery penny or dollars.

Interesting tools. 

[Old Joe]

I’m a little late to this party, but I have this drill and not only do I really like it, it makes drilling the holes in patterns with hundreds of cuts go much faster and they are dead on. I also use it with Forstner bits to embed signature coins and again, it makes it a breeze. Bit changes are fast and easy, and I sometimes use micro bits the size you’d use on a circuit board. I’m talking tiny! No issues tightening in the chucks.
Sometimes it does go on sale, but I just got an email from Grizzly saying that due to increased costs from their suppliers, and also due to increased shipping they will be having price increases coming imminently.

[Old Joe]

On 5/10/2021 at 9:43 PM, Dave Monk said:

I would love to have one that would hold a #70.

This Grizzly handles bits even smaller than #70s.

[Old Joe]

I also have the Grizzly Baby Drill Press and if scrolling was the primary usage for it, it is perfect. It also takes the smallest bits with no problem. And it’s on sale for $94.50 today. Great price.

Edited May 24, 2021 by Old Joe